I keep seeing an ad about 'The UK Army will give you confidence for a lifetime.' and it's presented like he's somehow suffering from PTSD flashbacks to being invited on a party or having a friend that's obsessed with Instagram. It's really weird.

It's this one, it's really weird. So much of the audio-visual language is just really jarring. And his expressions towards being invited to things are a strange mixture of dissociation and pure bloodlust.

Examples of said pure bloodlust with a sprinkle of dissociation in the mix.

Content Warning: Everything after this is going to be really dark and shocking, involving themes of death and trauma so be warned.

For people with a sick sense of humour just keep reading on.

WAIT STOP, I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL YOU. IT WASN'T MY FAULT GODDAMMIT. I WAS JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS.

Another one of the people that he killed. This time as a result of a DUI as his ghost taunts him, "Just a quick drink for the road, my man." he says.

This time he's being taunted by the affectionate but twisted cries of his once significant other. "It's so good to see you." she says as he hangs his head - falsely attempting to block out something that penetrates his very being.

Wide shot of the desert to emphasise the crushing loneliness of the situation.

Man approaches him to sell him some sneakers says to him "What's up my man, you already know what it is." as if to indicate a long relationship which has since passed. Now he's just imagining trivial abstract reminders of his life that once was.

Total confusion and dissociation at this point. His mind has wandered off into an incredibly dark and foreboding territory - unable to even be cognisant of the reality happening around him, as he stares off into the distance.

One of his mates in the army looks at him. He's totally lost the plot at this point, as his friend just stares at him with a state of anxiety thinking "What the hell is going on in this man's mind?"

But within in instant he comes in and pats him on the back of the head reassuringly telling him "Come on, mate. Nearly there." ultimately bringing him back into reality again.

He walks off into the desert, interchangeable to the other men - but with a regained sense of reassurance and a sense of himself again.

"Lots of things can give you confidence, for a little while. But confidence that lasts a lifetime - there's one place you'll find that."

Anyway, I get what they were going for in this ad - but the guy in it plays anxiety a bit too well that it's hard not to imagine something darker. I couldn't resist making this thread, I'm sorry.